Pipe rack



Feb. 20, 1934. E, o s o 1,947,553

PIPE RACK Filed July 25, 1929 INVENTOR. 5 E D WIN L. JbHNS TON.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNlTED STATES PATENT GFFICE Application July 25, 1929.

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to pipe racks em ployed as an attachment in connection with well drilling equipment and particularly in combination with the well derrick and is intended to assist in suitably spacing and retaining the pipe and tubing in proper position while it is stacked on the derrick platform.

In drilling wells by the rotary method a drill stem is used, made up of a great number of sections of drill pipe coupled together to rotate the bit as the drilling proceeds. These sections are coupled together in succession as the drill is lowered but, when it is necessary to withdraw the bit, the drill stern sections are uncoupled and removed and it is desirable to stand them in a convenient location at the side of the well where they may be easily obtained when drilling is resumed. It is usual practice, therefore, to stand these joints or sections of pipe in the corner of the derrick.

It is also usual to handle these sections of drill stern in lengths of approximately ninety or one hundred twenty feet, due to the fact that there are three or four thirty-foot sections which usually remain coupled together. These sections are known as threebles or fourbles and are more or less flexible due to their considerable length. When they are placed in the corner of the derrick, especially in locations where there are strong winds, it is possible that the sections of drill stem become displaced or in some instances the lower end may skid upon the derrick floor and otherwise may interfere with operations being carried on.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an attachment or rack for use on the derrick which will serve to positively retain the sections of pipe in the desired position.

Another object of the invention is to align accurately the first tier of pipe so that succeeding tiers will be properly spaced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pipe rack which is economical in its construction and simple in its operation.

A still further object oi the invention is to provide a pipe rack having fingers thereon which serve to retain each section of the pipe in its proper position.

It is also one of the objects of the invention to provide a pipe rack wherein each succeeding pipe section inserted in the rack serves to lock the preceding section in its proper position.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art when the tollowing description is considered in Serial No. 380,956

retained in proper position by my improved pipe 60 rack.

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the improved 66 pipe rack showing certain portions broken away for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 3 and showing the arrangement of one of the fingers and a stop bolt.

Fig. 5 shows a finger embodying a somewhat dii ferent construction from those shown in Fig. 3.

The derrick is indicated generally at 1 and is of usual construction comprising four corner posts and appropriate bracing. A platform shown at 3 is usually mounted at the proper elevation so that it is adjacent the upper end of the sections of pipe or tubing which are being stacked in the derrick. It is obvious that this platform may be of any desired elevation depending on the length of the pipe sections. When the drill stem or tubing is being withdrawn from the well one of the operators is stationed on the platform shown at 3 and as each section of pipe is raised he guides it into the corner of the derrick while the operator on the derrick floor locates the lower end. The elevator is then removed and the pipe thus remains in its proper position. It is usual for the operator to stack the pipe in tiers perpendicular to the platform 3. The pipe-rack is indicated generally at 5 and as here illustrated has a base board 6 and a top board 11. These two boards are best seen in section in Fig. 4 and preferably extend the entire length of one side of the derrick, having one end resting upon the platform 3 and the other end suitably connected to the derrick on the opposite side. These two boards are suitably spaced apart to provide for the insertion of the fingers 4. These fingers are used to retain the pipe sections in proper position and may be of the form shown in either Figs. 3 or 5, the finger in Fig. 5 being indicated by the numeral 4. As best seen in Fig. 3, each of these fingers is drilled to receive the pivot bolt 8, which preferably passes through the top and the base board so that the finger is mounted for horizontal swinging movement between the two boards.

It is desirable to limit the movement of each of these fingers in one direction so that the pipe formed for the next succeeding tier of pipe.

all

may be properly retained and this is accomplished by means of stop bolts 9, which are shown adjacent each of the fingers. Springs 10 are also shown as connected to the top board and fastened to each of the fingers 4 in any desired manner, either by use of a small clevis or by being connected directly to the finger. Each of these springs 10 serves to retain the finger in position against the stop bolt 9. The fingers shown in Fig. 3 are curved to engage the pipe or tubing and are so arranged that the distance between the point 7 of the ends of the fingers and the point 12 on the next succeeding finger is less than the diameter of the pipe or tubing being stacked. Thus, as shown in extreme left-hand side of Fig. 3, when a section of pipe is inserted, the finger to the left of the pipe is moved by engaging the pipe against the finger, as at 14, to permit the pipe to pass in between the two fingers, but the spring 10 serves to return the finger to its position against the stop bolt 9. Thus, when the next succeeding section of pipe is inserted, the preceding section is locked in position for the reason that the finger to the left of that section can not be moved.

U By having reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that when the entire first tier has been placed, as at 15, there is just sufficient room for insertion of the last pipe between the edge of the derrick and the last finger. Thus all of the pipe sections, except the last, are locked in position.

When the first tier of pipe has been thus inserted and locked in position by the last pipe section, a firm and stationary base has been As the next tier is formed each one of the sections is fitted into the depressions shown at 17 in Fig. 2. When the tiers are thus arranged it is impossible for the first tier to move or in any way become dislodged and tend to permit displacement of the next succeeding tier, but the removal of the pipe sections in reverse order will be obviously capable of every performance.

The modified finger shown at 4' in Fig. 5

may be used in connection with the pipe rack if desired. This finger is shown as being curbed so that the pull on the finger will be located cen trally of the pipe section, and in this manner the pipe may be more securely retained in the rack.

t is obvious that either tubing used in pumping a well or drill stem may be placed in my improved pipe rack. The rack is constructed in a single unit and may be readily removed from the derrick and placed upon another derrisk when desired. The top board 11 is of sufficient width to permit the operator to walk around on that side of the derrick, if desired.

. The top board 11 may be made of slightly less width than the bottom board 6. If so arranged, the springs 10 may then be fastened to the bottom board and the stop bolts 9 moved inwardly from the edge of the board 6 so that they may pass through the edge of the top board 11. In

this manner the top board 11 would be practically smooth and free of obstructions so as not to interfere with the movements of the operator. The ends of the fingers may be formed in any desired configuration so that the pipe sections 2 may be properly inserted by merely pushing upon the portion 14 and the point '7 of the next adjacent finger. I have shown the rack or support frame as made of wooden top and base boards and the fingers of metal, but the entire rack may be made of either wood or metal as circumstances require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe rack including a supporting structure, a plurality of horizontally swinging fingers to engage the pipe sections, and means on each finger whereby the insertion of a pipe section between said fingers prevents removal of the sections previously inserted.

2. A self locking pipe rack for well derricks, including a support, a plurality of fingers pivotally mounted thereon for horizontal movement, each finger having a curved end thereon, the distance between said endandthe next succeeding finger being less than the diameter of the pipe being racked, whereby each succeeding pipe inserted locks in position the section previously placed. 7

3. A pipe rack for holding the pipe in well derricks comprising a frame, fingers pivoted thereon for horizontal movement, means to normally retain said fingers in a position perpendicular to said frame, a curved portion on each of said fingers being arranged to space the pipe sections and prevent removal thereof when the rack is filled.

4. In a pipe rack for well derricks, a plurality of independent fingers pivoted to a support member, each finger being arranged for horizontal movement upon insertion of a pipe section, and means to normally retain each of said fingers in position to lock the pipe section being held by the next adjacent finger.

5. In a pipe rack. for use in well derricks, a support structure on the derrick, fingers pivotally mounted thereon, a stop for each of said fingers, and means to normally retain each finger in contact with its stop, said fingers being so disposed that the face of one finger and the back of the adjacent finger hold the pipe in position.

6. A pipe rack for well derricks including a top and base, pipe retaining fingers pivoted thereto, a spring connected to each finger so that each finger is adaptedfor movement upon insertion of the pipe section, and means to stop the movement of each finger in pipe receiving position.

7. A pipe rack including a supporting plate, a plurality of fingers pivoted thereto, means to hold said fingers in uniformly spaced relation,said fingers being spaced to receive the pipe sections between them, each finger being curved to en gage and hold a pipe section, each pipe section being adapted to be latched against its holding finger by the next succeeding section of pipe abutting the next adjacent finger.

EDWIN L. JOHNSTON. 

